Type-writing machine.



No. 694,537. Patented Mar. 4, I902.-

- P.. T. DODGE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec, 6, 1901.;

(No Modem UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

694,537, dated March ,4, 1902.

Application filed December 6, 1901- Serial No- 84,869. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIPT'. DODGE, of WVashington, District ofColumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Type-WritingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

There are now in common use for writing in bound books and on flatsheets machines in which the sheet or leaf to be written upon In thecommercial use of these machines it is frequently desirable to makeshort entries on bills, statements, &c., which must succeed each otherin the machine very rapidly.

The aim of my invention is to provide for this class of machines asimple attachment which will permit the edges of loose sheets, cards,&c., which may be laid on the platen to be instantly secured andreleased without the necessity of separating the frame and platen, theattachment being adapted for speedy application to and removal from themachine.

To this end it consists in a spring-clip adapted to embrace or inclosethe edge of the platen or frame, the clip being combined with a manualdevice bywhich it may be instantly thrown into and out of action.

In the drawings I have shown my clip in a form adapted more especiallyfor use in what are known commercially as the Elliott & Hatch machinesof the general organization shown in Letters Patent of the United StatesNo. 620,125.

Figure 1 represents my attachment applied to the forward end of theplaten of such a machine, the clips being raised to permit theintroduction or removal of the sheet. Fig. 2 is a similar view of thedevice, with the sheet confined in place, this figure showing also theusual outside frame which sustains the writing mechanism. Fig. 3 is across-section on the correspondingly-numbered line of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa vertical section on the correspondingly-numbered line of Fig. 2. Fig.5 isa perspective view showing a clip in slightly-modified form appliedto the platen.

Referring to the various figures, A represents the flat platen orbed-plate to sustain the sheet or page to be written upon, its surfacebeing ordinarily covered with vulcanized rubber.

B represents the open rectangular frame intended to sustain the writingmechanism and adapted to encircle the platen and to bear upon itslongitudinal edges, as shown. In the ordinary use of the machine forprint ing in books or on large sheets it is necessary to support theframe and platen vertically to permit the insertion or removal of thesheet which is to be confined between them.

In carrying out my invention in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 I providetwo. or more .metallic clips 0, preferably of spring-steel,

each bent intoa 3 form, adapted to be crowded over the edge of and totightly embrace the platen, so that it will retain its position. Theupperarm of the clip, resting on the upper surface of the platen, isformed with a central protruding tongue 0 and with incisions extendingbackward alongthe edges of this tongue into the body portion. Each ofthese tongues has an upwardly-curved portion 0' midway of its length. Dis a small wire or rod extending from one of the clips to the other andhaving flattened ends d, which are extended under the curved portion ofthe tongues and permitted to rest on the upper surface of the bodyportion. WVhen the crank-arm is turned to an upright position, as shownin Fig. 1, the flattened ends assume an upright position and lift thetongues o, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the edge of the sheet orcard may be readily inserted beneath them, the friction of the tonguesretaining the parts in this position, so that the operator has bothhands free to edect the properadjustment of the sheet. After the sheetis in position it is only necessary to give the crank a slight lateralpressure, whereupon it will fall to the position shown in Fig. 2, itsflattened ends permitting the fingers to spring down tightly upon thesheet, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As the sheet is inserted the ends ofthe body portion of the clip serve as stops or gages against which itmay be alined, as plainly shown in the several figures.

In the commercial machines there is a small space between the end of theplaten and the end bar of the frame B sufficient to admit the clipsbetween them. This fact renders it possible to apply the clips as shownand to close the frame B down around the outside of the clips, as shown,rendering it unnecessary to in any manner alter the machine.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the clip as formed of a continuous piece of metalbent to 3 form, with the raised portion 0 extending longitudinally inthe upper leaf. In this form of the clip the lifting or opening device Dis a flattened wire having one end bentor cranked. This crank-wire isinserted under the upper leaf of the clip and bears upon the surface ofthe platen or upon tongues punched from the leaf of the clip, as shownin dotted lines, so that when turned up on edge, as indicated in dottedlines, it will lift the edge of the clip and hold it in the elevatedposition while the sheet is being inserted or removed.

It will be understood that the clips may be made in any suitable lengthor,'if divided into sections, that any suitable number of the smallclips or sections may be employed, according to the size of the machineand the sheets to be held therein.

It is to be noted as a characteristic feature of my clip that it isadapted in each of its forms to fit over, include, or embrace the edgeof the platen or frame, so that a reconstruction or modification of themachine to permit the application of the clamp is unnecessary. It may beapplied in an instant to either of the commercial machines now in use,and being applied it is self-retaining and operative.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a book type-writer, thecombination of the flat platen, an elastic clip embracing the edge ofthe platen, and a lifting device above the platen, adapted to lift andsustain the upper arm of the clip.

2. In combination with the flat platen and the clip embracing the edgeof the platen, a rotary flattened lifting device, adapted to sustain theupper arm of the clip, substantially as shown.

3. In combination with the flat platen, a plurality of clips embracingthe same, and a rotary device, substantially as described, acting on theseries of clips to raise and uphold their upper arms.

4. A paper-holding clip for attachment to a book type-writer, consistingof a D-sh'aped elastic member adapted to embrace the platen or frame ofthe machine and hold itself in position and a lifting device tocooperate therewith.

5. In a paper-clip for a type-writing inachine,the elastic D-shaped bodyportion, having its upper end divided into a plurality of arms, incombination with a rotary lifting device acting above one arm andbeneath another, substantially as shown.

6. In a paper-clip for a book type-writer, the elastic body portion ofI) form, having its upper end divided into a plurality of arms diiferingin length, and one of said arms formed with an upward curve therein, incombination with a rotary lifting device seated between the arms andretained in place by the curved portion, substantially as described andshown.

7. In a book type-Writer, in combination with a fiat bed or platen, anelastic clip embracing the edge of the platen, the external frame seatedoutside of the clip and securing the same in position, and the liftingdevice cooperating with the upper arm of the clip, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 3d day of December,1901, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

PHILIP T. DOD GE.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. GEORGE, M. A. DRIFFILL.

